Flores is the capital of Guatemala's Petén department and occupies a small island in Lake Petén Itzá, connected to the mainland by a causeway. The compact island is known for its colorful buildings, narrow streets, waterfront promenade, and views across the lake. Flores also serves as a base for exploring the archaeological and natural attractions of northern Guatemala.

Berat, set along the Osum River in central Albania, is a city shaped by centuries of continuity and coexistence. Known as the City of a Thousand Windows, its white Ottoman-era houses climb the hillside toward a hilltop fortress, creating a striking and harmonious skyline.

Qingdao, also Tsingtao or Ch'ing-tao, Shandong Province, eastern China. It is a major naval base, an industrial center, and a port on the Yellow Sea at the entrance to sheltered Jiaozhou Bay. The port, which rarely freezes over, serves the industrialized northern China Plain and was expanded in 1976 to include an oil terminal for large tankers on Huang Island. The leading manufactures of the city include textiles, railroad equipment, rubber goods, fertilizer, and chemicals.

Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, is a city where tradition and modern life meet in unexpected ways. Streets are lined with traditional Bhutanese architecture, colorful prayer flags, and shops selling handicrafts, while government offices and modern facilities operate alongside centuries-old temples.

El Salvador's capital and largest city lies in a valley at the foot of the large San Salvador volcano. Shanty towns abound and the streets are lined with people selling everything.